Fake 999 calls put lives at risk, police warn after surge in hoax and abusive contacts

Thursday, 30 October 2025 14:31

By David Murphy

Greater Manchester Police say they are cracking down on malicious 999 calls after several arrests and convictions, including a man jailed for eight months and a woman accused of making over 140 abusive calls in just three months.

Greater Manchester Police have warned the public to “think before you dial” after a spike in hoax and threatening emergency calls endangered frontline workers and diverted resources from real emergencies.

A series of cases across Greater Manchester, including one involving a jailed email sender and another of a woman accused of making more than 140 offensive calls, has highlighted the growing strain placed on emergency services by fake 999 contact.

Rebecca Greaney, head of GMP’s contact management and business transformation, issued a strong warning to the public:

“Every time someone makes a false emergency call, they divert vital resources away from real emergencies and from people who really need our help and help from the other emergency services.

“That means someone in genuine danger could be left waiting while officers respond to a call that never should have happened. Lives are put at risk, time and public money are wasted, and our emergency responders are needlessly stretched.”

Among the most serious recent cases was that of 41-year-old Kether Everett from Bath, who was jailed in October for sending more than 40 threatening and abusive emails to GMP and Dorset Police. One email chillingly referenced convicted murderer Dale Cregan and included a threat to bomb a Bath charity. He received an eight-month prison sentence for the campaign of harassment, which lasted from October 2024 to August 2025.

Separately, Natasha Pilkington, aged 40, of Wilbraham Road, Manchester, appeared before Manchester Magistrates' Court earlier this month, accused of making 142 emergency calls between June and August. She was charged with making calls of an “offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing” nature.

James Hughes, 47, of Bailey Lane in Wythenshawe, is also facing prosecution. He is accused of making 104 calls that caused “annoyance, inconvenience or anxiety” and is due to appear in court on 29 October. He was granted bail on the condition that he does not use 999 or 101 unless in a genuine emergency.

In August, GMP arrested three teenagers on suspicion of making malicious 999 calls under the Communications Act. In one instance, the teenagers are alleged to have falsely claimed a man with a knife was nearby, prompting an emergency response that turned out to be unnecessary.

Ms Greaney emphasised that GMP treats all emergency calls as potentially life-threatening and will continue to respond with full seriousness to any reports, real or fake. “People found making fake emergency calls may face prosecution, fines, or imprisonment,” she said. “999 is for emergencies.”

Police also confirmed that online reporting systems are being misused by people making false or threatening contact, and that such behaviour will be “dealt with equally robustly.”